The history of the Moscow Kremlin
Center of the first-throned Moscow (XVIIIth century)

The new, XVIIIth century began with Peter I’s reformation activity. In 1712, the capital of Russia was transferred on the Neva River’s bank in sacred Peter's city – Saint-Petersburg.
In Moscow the first year of the new century was marked with a terrible fire in the Kremlin. Peter I ordered to build Arsenal (Zeighaus) in the burnt out part, between the Trinity and the Sobakina towers. There was Northern war, and Charles XII prepared for a campaign to Moscow. After the well-known Poltava victory Russia was out of danger. The building of the Arsenal was completed only in 1736 by Empress Anna Ioannovna. In the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries, the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin still remained the main church of Russia. All emperors and empresses came to the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral to take part in a magnificent crowning ceremony. However, the ancient Kremlin did not satisfy the demands of prestige, comfort and taste of the New Time. Its look started to change.
In 1749-1753, the chambers of the Tsar’s court of the XVth century were demolished, and on their fundaments F.-B. Rastrelli erected new stone Winter Palace in the style of Baroque. In 1756-1764, between the Annunciation and the Archangel’s Cathedrals, on the place of an ancient Treasury Court, architect D.V. Ukhtomsky erected a building of the Armoury Chamber’s gallery for treasures of the imperial treasury. However, several years later the building was demolished as grandiose reorganization of the Kremlin under V.I. Bazhenov's project and erection of a new palace was planned. The plan was not carried out, but after that demolishing the Kremlin lost many ancient buildings. In 1776, the so-called Archboshop’s House was built under the project by M.F. Kazakov. The small representative building in the style of Classicism styled a corner of the Chudov Monastery and made the area of Ivan Square more precise. In 1776-1787, under the project by M.F. Kazakov project the Senate building was erected in the Kremlin. The new building also constructed in the style of Classicism, was settled down opposite to the Arsenal and formed integral ensemble of Senate Square, having connected in memories of descendants names of two most known governors and reformers of Russia of the XVIIIth century – Tsar Peter I and Empress Catherine II.